News Summary

The rise of the “Internet of Things” (IoT) is driving new demands on embedded software in terms of security, interoperability, scalability and faster time-to-market. The next generation of Java Platform Micro Edition (Java ME) is intended to meet these requirements by promoting a consistent development environment and providing the ability to “right-size” the Java ME platform for deployment across a wider range of use cases, from very small to more powerful embedded systems.

News Facts

Oracle today announced that plans for Java ME 8 are moving forward with availability expected in conjunction with the release of Java SE 8 Specification and JDK 8, its official reference implementation, in March, 2014.

Java ME 8 is a major update to the existing Java ME platform incorporating a large set of updated and new features, including:

Support for modern web protocols, enabling interoperability with devices, enterprise back-end systems and cloud services

A comprehensive application model that will enable both simple, single-use devices and more complex deployments, including remote management and separate administrative, application and audit domains

Advanced security features including support for TLS 1.2, modern crypto algorithms and pluggable authentication and authorization providers

Standard APIs for power management and interaction with a broad set of standard peripherals

Oracle Java ME Embedded 8 will be the Oracle implementation of the Java ME 8 standard. Oracle Java ME Embedded 8 Early Access is now available as a binary runtime for Raspberry Pi Model B (ARM11) and ST Microelectronics STM32F4DISCOVERY (ARM Cortex-M4).

Java ME SDK 8 Early Access is now available to support development of Java ME 8 Early Access-based applications on an emulation runtime for Windows 7, as well supported hardware platforms.

The Oracle Java ME Embedded 8 and Java ME SDK 8 Early Access releases are now available on Oracle Technology Network (OTN) at no cost for evaluation and development purposes under the OTN Developer License.

In addition, Oracle Java ME Embedded 3.4 is now available. This is an incremental update to Oracle Java ME Embedded that provides enhanced support for the Qualcomm Technologies’ QSC6270T chipset and adds advanced development and serviceability capabilities.

The goal of the CLDC 8 update is to bring the power and flexibility of the Java SE 8 language features to Java ME, along with limited additions to the APIs and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to maintain the small footprint, while promoting a consistent development environment and features for increasing developer productivity.

Java ME Embedded Profile (MEEP) 8 (JSR 361) provides the ability to “right-size” the platform across a wider range of use cases, from very small to more powerful embedded systems.

MEEP 8 fully leverages the new capabilities of CLDC 8 and includes a number of new and improved features and APIs, such as an enhanced “services-enabled” application platform to enable software modularity and a more flexible security model to support deployment-specific infrastructures.

Oracle Java Platform Integrator Program

The Oracle Java Platform Integrator program is intended for companies that provide on-device software or services, system integration or value added services for embedded markets. The program allows partners to port and integrate Oracle Java Embedded product code to meet their specific device and market requirements.

There are 2 support packages available for program participants:

Pre-deployment: Oracle Java Platform Integrator Development Support, which includes access to product code and related TCKs, a direct connection to Oracle engineering, training and development support

Oracle Java Embedded Partner Updates

Freescale and Oracle are working together to create a standard platform for service providers that combines Oracle Java SE Embedded and Oracle Event Processing for Oracle Java Embedded with Freescale Kinetis microcontrollers, i.MX applications processors or QorIQ communications processors. The “one box” platform is expected to help consolidate the secure delivery of IoT services for the home automation, industrial and manufacturing automation industries into a single, unified appliance for end users. See related press release.

Gemalto, a world leader in digital security, is working with Oracle and V2COM, a leading developer of Smart Grid systems, to deliver a flexible smart energy solution. This advanced Smart Grid Platform, which combines Gemalto’s Cinterion modules, Oracle Java ME Embedded, Oracle Java SE Embedded, the Oracle Utilities Meter Data Management solution and V2COM’s Intellligenceware Suite, is expected to help modernize electrical power delivery throughout Latin America.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, and Oracle have collaborated to bring Oracle Java ME Embedded to key chipsets in Qualcomm Technologies’ Internet of Everything (IoE) portfolio. Oracle Java ME Embedded support is currently available on QSC6270-Turbo, and Oracle and Qualcomm are working together on expanding this to MDM6x00 and MDM9x15, as well as other chipsets. These chipsets are among the world’s most widely commercialized 3G and 4G wireless chipsets. Once finalized, Java ME 8 will be the first release that will be available on Qualcomm Technologies’ platforms.

At the recent Qualcomm Uplinq conference in San Diego, Qualcomm Technologies and Oracle showcased Oracle Java ME Embedded. Andrew Sugaya, a software engineer at APX Labs, won the grand prize in the Uplinq Hackathon by using the Qualcomm Technologies-powered IoE Kit by Etherios with Oracle Java ME Embedded to develop his LiteSense application, which automatically controls lights using real-world context.

Over 8 billion Java Card units have been shipped since its introduction

Supporting Quote

“Leveraging Java’s cross-platform benefits, the Oracle Java Embedded implementations enable easier application portability, increase hardware flexibility and platform choice and help extend product lifecycles,” said Nandini Ramani, vice president of development, Java Platform, Oracle. “We are pleased at the progress being made with the Java ME 8 specifications within the JCP and anticipate that the alignment with Java SE 8 will help create a more unified Java Embedded developer platform and ecosystem to better address the complexity of the Internet of Things.”

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